Understanding the role of a school board member

The Niagara Community Information Group gathered Monday at the Underground Railroad Heritage Center and heard from Terrence L. Heard.

The monthly meeting, at 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday, has become the largest monthly gathering of people concerned with the performance of the Niagara Falls City Schools which consistently ranks among the poorest performing districts in Western New York.

Heard spoke addressed the meeting to talk about the importance of knowing the job of a school board member before voting.

Heard spoke of the struggles in a community where families are in a rough spot economically. Often, a child attending school and acting out is reflecting something going on at home, whether food insecurity, domestic violence or other issues.

A child might show symptoms but is often coping in a way educators need to understand in the context of the whole family.

School Board members have one primary responsibility, to govern the Superintendent.

Heard served as an at-large member of the Buffalo School Board and saw a parallel to the shared experience of Niagara Falls.

“The root of the problem is we are sending our children to the exact same school district that failed us,” Heard said.

To make a difference, groups like NCIG must first understand the district’s policy in working with community groups. It also needs to find a consistent answer to an age-old problem – how does the school reach the kids where a child is functioning as a parent?

Next month, NCIG will host speakers from Niagara Falls City School District who will discuss the annual budget, where the money goes and how things fit together.

A flyer was distributed Monday promoting Niagara United Vision’s Juneteenth Scholarship Gala at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 7 at the Doubletree Hotel, 401 Buffalo Ave. The theme is “Stay the Course” Rev. Gene Coplin is the featured guest speaker. For more information, visit www.Niagaraunitedvision.org